The magnetism and passion for pearls has been around for eons as the basis of elegance and esteem. Pearls are among the earliest of known gems which humans placed exclusivity on.

In ancient China, they were worth more than gold and were used as a means to pay taxes. Cleopatra of Egypt use to ground them and drink it in her wine, desiring the flawless beauty of the pearl would be attained by doing so.

In former Ceylon, pearls were closely associated with weddings and that by wearing or displaying them would bring good fortune and happiness to the couple.

 

 

The allure of a strand of pearls gained popularity as the one basic accessory worn to complete a wardrobe. Coco Chanel helped pearls to become universal staple for women throughput the world

The elegant pearl enjoys a rekindling with every new generation looking to add it her jewelry collection. While there is no right or wrong way to chose pearls, there are some guidelines to follow and understanding of what to look for when purchasing pearls.

A feature that draws women to beauty of the pearl is its luster. It is the shine and glow of the pearl and the way it handles light that gives it exquisiteness. High luster pearls reflect objects clearly and give the most natural glow under the morning sunlight. Those that appear cloudy have a much less value.

 

 

The size of a pearl can vary from the dimension of a pin head to approximately equivalent to a Robin’s egg. Generally, the larger the size, the more costly the pearl will be.

Pearls come in an interesting assortment of shapes also besides the classic round pearl. The baroque and off-round shapes have been recently gaining popularity, although the round pearl shape remain precious as the most expensive and highly desired.

Nacre is the same striking iridescent material creating luster to the pearl that most everyone knows as the mother-of-pearl. The oyster begins to secrete nacre during the process of forming a pearl. As a general rule, the thicker the nacre, the higher quality the completed pearl will become. The ‘orient,’ is the iridescent rainbow appearance of high-quality pearls.

Colors are another attribute to consider when purchasing your pearls. A pearl’s color can range from pink, silver, cream, golden, green, blue and black. Favored colors for value are white rose to crme. When searching for a strand, choose one there colors as they will be valued higher than any that exhibit a yellowish tone.

Always check the undertone of the pearls which is a secondary tint. The different hues can fare good or poorly with your own skin tone. For fair-skin ladies, a pearl with a slightly pinkish undertone will give the most flattering appearance. Women of color and olive skin types will look stunning with a silver overtone on their pearls.

 

 

For colors other than white; the most important factor to consider is whether the pearl has been dyed or otherwise color-treated. Sometime black pearls, which are considered extremely rare, may have been dyed. You may not be getting what you think.

The rule for all pearls is the fewer the blemishes the better. However, if you are on a budget and have to sacrifice something, a few spots here and there are preferable to making a sacrifice in luster. Those that have no imperfections may be imitations. Place pearls directly under a light on a flat, white surface in order to inspect them.

It can be very difficult to distinguish between a natural pearl and a cultured pearl (much less expensive); but when it is a synthetic pearl, it is not tricky to determine the real from the fake. The old tooth test is a simple way to telling the difference between imitation pearls and the real ones. When you rub a natural or cultured pearl across your teeth, the pearl will feel slightly gritty. When done with a fake and it’s likely to feel smooth and slippery.

Pearls are classified by where they derive from and then are graded by size, shape, nacre thickness, color, luster, and surface clarity and matching. Pearls that are offered at bargain basement prices are probably fake. A little knowledge can save in the long run when you shop for pearls.